Bihar’s Greenhouse Gas Emission to Rise Five Times by 2070

• 18 Mar 2024

Why in News?

According to the ‘Climate Resilient and Low-Carbon Development Pathway’ report, Bihar’s greenhouse gas emission is projected to increase 5.2 times by 2070, when India targets to achieve net zero emission.

Key Points

• The findings were in the report drafted by the Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) in association with the United Nations Environment Programme.
  • The government of Bihar had initiated the process to prepare the strategy for a climate resilient and low-carbon development pathway in February 2021.
• The draft report states that:
  • Bihar’s contribution to national emissions is about 3.3% of India's greenhouse gas emissions in 2018, lower than its share of national population (8.8%), even as they had doubled between 2005 and 2013.
  • The energy sector was the highest emitter of greenhouse gases with a contribution of 69% to the total in 2018, followed by agriculture, forest and other land use at 24%, waste management with 5% and industrial processing and product use at 2%.
  • If present trend continues, the state’s emissions are projected to increase 5.2 times between 2020 and 2070.
  • The energy sector will continue to be the highest emitter, projected to contribute 93% of the total emissions. Followed by construction (6%), transport (5%) and industries (5%).
  • The dominance of the power sector in emissions is because of the continued dependence on coal for electricity generation.
• Since most emissions are from the power sector, Bihar will need to avoid opening new thermal power plants after 2030 to be consistent with India’s net zero 2070 target.
  • Therefore, the state will need to secure long-term clean energy power purchase agreements with renewable energy-rich states.
  • In addition, the state will need to consider options like rooftop solar panels, floating solar, agri-photovoltaics and other decentralised forms of renewable energy proactively.
  • At the same time, end-use sectors of industry, transport and real estate will need to be electrified so that emissions from them are reduced through use of renewable energy.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

• It is a leading global environmental authority established on 5th June 1972.
• It sets the global environmental agenda, promotes sustainable development within the United Nations system, and serves as an authoritative advocate for global environment protection.

Net Zero Emission

• It is referred to as carbon neutrality, which does not mean that a country would bring down its emissions to zero.
• It is a state in which a country’s emissions are compensated by the absorption and removal of greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.
• More than 70 countries have promised to become Net Zero by the middle of the century i.e., by 2050.
• India has promised to cut its emissions to net zero by 2070 at the conference of parties-26 (COP) summit.